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While there are some similarities between Islam and Christianity (both are monotheistic religions, for example), their differences are distinct, significant, and irreconcilable. In this article, we will examine four key areas: the founders of the two religions, their differing views of God, their sacred texts, and their beliefs about salvation. It will become evident that Islam and Christianity diverge in each of these four aspects.
Islam and Christianity: Founders of the Religions
Islam was established by an Arab merchant named Muhammad around AD 622. Muhammad asserted that he received a divine revelation from an angel of God. Initially apprehensive that the revelation might be from Satan, Muhammad later proclaimed himself as the final and greatest of God’s prophets. Muhammad had fifteen wives (while restricting other men to four wives each) and endorsed the physical punishment of wives (Sura 4:34). He was notorious for spreading his new faith through coercion, instructing his followers to “Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them” (Sura 9:5) and detailing the method to execute an unbeliever by cutting their throat (Sura 47:4). Muhammad led violent raids against caravans for plunder, violated oaths, ordered the killing of those who ridiculed him, and exterminated the last Jewish tribe in Medina—slaughtering all the men and enslaving the women and children. Interestingly, Muhammad acknowledged his own need for God’s forgiveness at times (Sura 40:55).
In stark contrast to the moral failings of Muhammad, Jesus Christ was morally blameless in every aspect, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus never married, upheld and respected women (John 8:1-11), and HisLaw was “love one another” «A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. », (John 13:34). Accordingly, Jesus never assassinated anyone, never beat a woman, never enslaved a child, never broke a promise, and never plundered a caravan. On the cross, when Jesus was mocked by those nearby, His response was, “Father, forgive them” «Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. », (Luke 23:34).
Islam and Christianity: Views of God
Islam teaches that Allah, or God, is the sovereign Creator and Ruler of all that is. Muslims emphasize God’s absolute unity, which will admit of no division, and God’s will. In fact, the will of God is more fundamental to who He is than His love or mercy. God could choose not to be merciful, and He can choose not to love; thus, Allah’s mercy and love are not inherent to His nature but are choices He makes. More crucial than loving God—or even knowing Him—is submitting to His will. The word Islam means “submission.” According to Islam, God cannot be considered a “father” and He has no son. Allah does not love sinners Surah 3:140.
Similar to Islam, Christianity teaches that God is the sovereign Creator and Ruler of all that is—but that is about where the similarity ends. Christians believe in one God who exists in three eternal, co-equal Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) who share the same indivisible essence. According to Christianity, God loves because His very nature is love «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. », (1 John 4:8)—not just because He happens to choose to love. God’s essence includes the attribute of mercy, so divine displaysDays of mercy are more than choices God makes; they are extensions of His character. God is knowable and desires a relationship with us based on love “and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”, (Mark 12:30). Obeying God is important, but obedience without a relationship based on love is worthless “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”, (1 Corinthians 13:3). According to Christianity, God the Father has an eternal relationship with God the Son. God does love sinners “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”, (Romans 5:8).
Islam and Christianity: Sacred Literature
Islam holds that the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), the Psalms, and the Gospels were given by God— with this caveat: Jews and Christians have corrupted God’s Word and therefore Bibles cannot be fully trusted. Muslims believe that God’s final Word, the Qur’an, was miraculously given to Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years. The Qur’an, which is perfect and holy, is divided into 114 chapters called suras. In addition to the Qur’an, Muslims have the Hadith, a collection of Muhammad’s sayings, opinions, and actions as reported by those close to him.
Biblical Christianity holds that the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are God’s inspired Word and the only authoritative rule of faith and practice. The Bible warns against adding to God’s Word “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these…”Things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: », (Revelation 22:18); Christians reject the Qur’an as an attempted addition to God’s Word and as a document that contradicts the Bible in many ways.
Islam and Christianity: Means of Salvation
Islam teaches a works-based salvation and in this way is similar to other man-made religions. A Muslim must keep the five pillars of Islam: he must confess the shahadah (“there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”); he must kneel in prayer toward Mecca five times a day; he must fast during the daylight hours one month of the year (Ramadan); he must give money to the poor; and he must make a pilgrimage to Mecca sometime in his lifetime. Islam teaches that the day of judgment will involve a person’s good and bad deeds being weighed in a balance—so the standard for judgment is one’s own actions (Surah 7:8-9;21:47). The Qur’an forbids anyone from bearing another’s burden of sin (Surah 17:15;Surah 35:18) and pointedly denies the death of Jesus (or Isa) on the cross (Surah 3:55;Surah 4:157-158). If you will be saved, you must save yourself.
Christianity teaches a grace-based salvation. A person is saved by the grace (the undeserved blessing) of God, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9;Romans 10:9-10). The standard for judgment is absolute perfection—the righteousness of Christ. No one can measure up to perfection «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23), but God in His grace and mercy has given His Son as the substitute for our sin: “When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 1:13-14). We cannot save ourselves, so we turn to Christ, our sinless Savior and the author and finisher of our faith «looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. », (Hebrews 12:2).
Islam and Christianity, having different beliefs on essential doctrines such as God, Jesus, Scripture, and salvation, are irreconcilable. Both religions cannot be true. We believe that Jesus Christ, as presented in the Bible, is the true Son of God and Savior of mankind. “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” «For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. », (John 1:17).
